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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. board — to get on
  7. pop — to visit
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. last — final
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. pop — soda
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. toast — bread
  15. last — finally
  16. board — a committee
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. last — to go on
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. pop — music
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. snap — to click
  24. snap — to snap out of it

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com